2 And it came to pass, while H3117 the ark H727 abode H3427 in Kirjathjearim, H7157 that the time H3117 was long; H7235 for it was twenty H6242 years: H8141 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 lamented H5091 after H310 the LORD. H3068
Return, H7725 ye backsliding H7726 children, H1121 and I will heal H7495 your backslidings. H4878 Behold, we come H857 unto thee; for thou art the LORD H3068 our God. H430 Truly H403 in vain H8267 is salvation hoped for from the hills, H1389 and from the multitude H1995 of mountains: H2022 truly H403 in the LORD H3068 our God H430 is the salvation H8668 of Israel. H3478 For shame H1322 hath devoured H398 the labour H3018 of our fathers H1 from our youth; H5271 their flocks H6629 and their herds, H1241 their sons H1121 and their daughters. H1323 We lie down H7901 in our shame, H1322 and our confusion H3639 covereth H3680 us: for we have sinned H2398 against the LORD H3068 our God, H430 we and our fathers, H1 from our youth H5271 even unto this day, H3117 and have not obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430
And I will pour H8210 upon the house H1004 of David, H1732 and upon the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 the spirit H7307 of grace H2580 and of supplications: H8469 and they shall look H5027 upon me whom they have pierced, H1856 and they shall mourn H4553 for him, as one mourneth H5594 for his only H3173 son, and shall be in bitterness H4843 for him, as one that is in bitterness H4843 for his firstborn. H1060 In that day H3117 shall there be a great H1431 mourning H4553 in Jerusalem, H3389 as the mourning H4553 of Hadadrimmon H1910 in the valley H1237 of Megiddon. H4023
For G1063 godly G2316 G2596 sorrow G3077 worketh G2716 repentance G3341 to G1519 salvation G4991 not to be repented of: G278 but G1161 the sorrow G3077 of the world G2889 worketh G2716 death. G2288 For G1063 behold G2400 this G5124 selfsame thing, G846 that G5209 ye sorrowed G3076 after G2596 a godly sort, G2316 what G4214 carefulness G4710 it wrought G2716 in you, G5213 yea, G235 what clearing of yourselves, G627 yea, G235 what indignation, G24 yea, G235 what fear, G5401 yea, G235 what vehement desire, G1972 yea, G235 what zeal, G2205 yea, G235 what revenge! G1557 In G1722 all G3956 things ye have approved G4921 yourselves G1438 to be G1511 clear G53 in G1722 this matter. G4229
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 7
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
1Sa 7:1, 2. The Ark at Kirjath-jearim.
1. the men of Kirjath-jearim—"the city of woods," also Kirjath-baal (Jos 15:60; 18:14; 1Ch 13:5, 6). It was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh and stood on a hill. This was the reason of the message (1Sa 6:21), and why this was chosen for the convenience of people turning their faces to the ark (1Ki 8:29-35; Ps 28:2; Da 6:10).
brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill—Why it was not transported at once to Shiloh where the tabernacle and sacred vessels were remaining, is difficult to conjecture.
sanctified … his son—He was not a Levite, and was therefore only set apart or appointed to be keeper of the place.
2. the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim … twenty years—It appears, in the subsequent history, that a much longer period elapsed before its final removal from Kirjath-jearim (2Sa 6:1-19; 1Ch 13:1-14). But that length of time had passed when the Israelites began to revive from their sad state of religious decline. The capture of the ark had produced a general indifference either as to its loss or its recovery.
all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord—They were then brought, doubtless by the influence of Samuel's exhortations, to renounce idolatry, and to return to the national worship of the true God.
1Sa 7:3-6. The Israelites, through Samuel's Influence, Solemnly Repent at Mizpeh.
3-6. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel—A great national reformation was effected through the influence of Samuel. Disgusted with their foreign servitude, and panting for the restoration of liberty and independence, they were open to salutary impressions; and convinced of their errors, they renounced idolatry. The re-establishment of the faith of their fathers was inaugurated at a great public meeting, held at Mizpeh in Judah, and hallowed by the observance of impressive religious solemnities. The drawing water, and pouring it out before the Lord, seems to have been a symbolical act by which, in the people's name, Samuel testified their sense of national corruption, their need of that moral purification of which water is the emblem, and their sincere desire to pour out their hearts in repentance before God.
6. Samuel judged … Israel in Mizpeh—At the time of Eli's death he could not have much exceeded twenty years of age; and although his character and position must have given him great influence, it does not appear that hitherto he had done more than prophets were wont to do. Now he entered on the duties of a civil magistrate.
1Sa 7:7-14. While Samuel Prays, the Philistines Are Discomfited.
7-11. when the Philistines heard, &c.—The character and importance of the national convention at Mizpeh were fully appreciated by the Philistines. They discerned in it the rising spirit of religious patriotism among the Israelites that was prepared to throw off the yoke of their domination. Anxious to crush it at the first, they made a sudden incursion while the Israelites were in the midst of their solemn celebration. Unprepared for resistance, they besought Samuel to supplicate the divine interposition to save them from their enemies. The prophet's prayers and sacrifice were answered by such a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning that the assailants, panic-struck, were disordered and fled. The Israelites, recognizing the hand of God, rushed courageously on the foe they had so much dreaded and committed such immense havoc, that the Philistines did not for long recover from this disastrous blow. This brilliant victory secured peace and independence to Israel for twenty years, as well as the restitution of the usurped territory.
12. Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen—on an open spot between the town and "the crag" (some well-known rock in the neighborhood). A huge stone pillar was erected as a monument of their victory (Le 26:1). The name—Eben-ezer—is thought to have been written on the face of it.